New York Red Bulls shopping Bobby Convey, looking for new players

After coming up empty at the close of the transfer window, the New York Red Bulls are exploring possible trades and signings to help bolster their lineup and ease their cap woes.

One player who is on the trading block is Bobby Convey.

Multiple sources tell EOS the 31-year-old Philadelphia native has been shopped around to several teams in the league. Interest, however, has been lukewarm — and that is putting it kindly.

Convey came to New York with great promise. The former U.S. Men’s National Team player joined the Red Bulls from Toronto F.C. for a pair of draft picks. A league veteran, Convey was seen as a valuable — and affordable — commodity for New York in a year that promised unique fixture congestion. With his ability to play on the left wing, left fullback and even as an attacking midfielder, the Red Bulls envisioned a scenario where the well-traveled playmaker would push Jonny Steele for minutes while filling in gaps for the club during World Cup, Champions League and U.S. Open Cup play.

Team Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh even expressed that Convey could be the attacking midfielder the Red Bulls had hoped for.

That never came to pass. Struggling with fitness in camp, Convey never managed to find his footing in-season. When he did, he proved ineffectual on the pitch. Injuries and their ensuing recuperation sidelined him through six league matches. When he returned, he struggled to break through anywhere on the left flank, even falling behind 23-year-old Cameroonian defender Ambroise Oyongo in the depth chart.

Most recently, Convey did not participate in the Red Bulls vs. Arsenal friendly, did not travel for their match against Salt Lake and rode the bench at home against New England. He has made all of 11 appearances for the club, including nine starts for a total of 728 minutes. He is also on a handsome salary, earning $137.5k in base salary and $147.5 in base pay. That has made him a tough sell.